Global Detached Structures Database (GDSD)

Here, the Global Detached Structures Database (GDSD) is presented. This curated compilation of 373 detached coastal structures from 10 different countries worldwide, including geometric and hydrodynamic parameters, as well as shoreline response classifications. It offers a comprehensive coverage of natural (Reefs, Islands) and human-made (emerged, low-crested and submerged) types. High-resolution orthophotographs, satellite imagery and multiple digital elevation models (DEMs) underpin extraction of structural, morphological and hydrodynamical variables. Literature-reported values supplement remotely sensed data to ensure completeness. Created explicitly for machine-learning applications, this dataset supports the development and training of predictive models designed to surpass the capabilities of existing empirical approaches, enabling more accurate classification of detached structures and projection of their morphodynamical impacts on sandy coasts within diverse geographic settings. The following table and images summerizes the variables and parameters considered. Variable Description id Numeric identifier for each location (from 1 to 373) country The country name where the beach is located loc_id Text id combines a country code and a sequential number (e.g., S1 for Spain - site 1, UK2 for United Kingdom - site 2). beach_name Local name of the beach or nearby zones (except Japan that is missing) lat Latitude of the structure or beach location lon Longitude of the structure or beach location elev_type Index indicate: E for Emerged, LC Low-Crested and S for Submerged orig_type Index indicate: BW for man-made structures, or natural structrures like Reefs and Islands is_natural Boolean indicating if the structure is natural (0 for man-made breakwaters and 1 for natural reefs or islands) is_tombolo Boolean indicating the beach response (0 if a salient is formed 1 if a tombolo is formed) D The stretch of the original shoreline affected by the structure, in meters B The total length of the breakwater structure, in meters S Distance between the structure and the initial shoreline, in meters Y The size or length of the beach response (tombolo or salient), in meters X The distance between the structure and the end of the apex spit (X = S-Y), in meters h_struct The local depth were the structure is located, in meters Hs_50 The global median of all (Hs₅₀), most frequent waves for each location, in meters Tp (Hs_50) The associated period (Tm (Hs₅₀)), most frequent period for each location, in seconds EMWD Energy‑weighted mean wave direction for each location, in degrees L The characteristic wavelength at 10 m depth (nearby the structure), in meters